Time switch



@Homwigm Dec. 1, 1936. c. HcsTETLr-:R

Filed Aug. l5, 1935 TIE-rl@ a l 57x29@ Dec. 1, 1936. L. c. HOSTETLER TIME SWITCH Filed Aug. l5, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 f2 i a l] .42 55 (gm/vento@ C? HOSTETLEA wil/wwe @Hof/14u30.

Dec. l, 1936. L. c. HOSTETLER TIME SWITCH Filed Aug. l5, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 S14/www1,

L C. Hasn-715A Patented Dec. 1, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

The invention aims to provide a new and improved time switch designed primarily for operating starting signals for programs being broadcasted or conducted for other purposes, and

5 in the present disclosure, provision is made for operating starting signals for two different programs. The switch is preferably actuated by a synchronous electric clock movement, but could of course be otherwise operated if desired.

With the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, description being accomplished by reference to the accompanying drawmgs.

Fig. 1 is an elevation showing a time switch constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional View on line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective View showing a number of the working parts.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic perspective View.

In the drawings above briefly described, IIJ may be considered as denoting the casing of a synchronous electric clock movement having an hour-shaft I I which rotates once in twelve hours, a minute-shaft I2 which rotates once in sixty minutes, and a second-shaft I3 which rotates once in sixty seconds. The hour-shaft II carries a somewhat resilient conducting arm I4 having an hour-contact I5 cooperable with a relatively xed hour-contact I 5a, and a second hourcontact cooperable with a second relatively iixed hour-contact Ia.

The minute-shaft I2 carries a somewhat resilient conducting arm I1 which supports a normally open switch I8. This switch, in the present showing, includes an adjustable contact I9 carried by and conductively connected with a conducting arm 20 integral with or otherwise conductively connected with the arm I'I, a movable contact 2| cooperable with the Contact I9 and carried by a resilient arm 22, and an insulating lever 23 for springing the arm 22 to force the contact 2I against the contact I9. The arm I'I carries an insulating base 24, arm and base being secured together by bolts or the like 25. Upon this base 24, the arm 22 is secured as shown at 26 and the lever 23 is fulcrumed as at 2l. The arm 22 is integral with or otherwise conductively connected with a linger 28 having a minute-contact 29 preferably in the form of a roller, said minute-contact 29 being cooperable with relatively xed minute-contacts 29a and 29h.

The second-shaft I3 carries an arm 3l which serves as an actuator for the operating lever 23 of the switch I8, said arm 3| preferably having a roller 32 to engage said lever 23. A suitable adjustable stop 33 may be provided to limit the switch-opening movement of the lever 23, said lever being returned to switch-open position by the resiliency of the contact arm 22 when said lever is freed by the roller 32.

The contacts I 5a, I6F- and 29a are carried by three concentric rings 34, 35 and 36 respectively, which rings are mounted upon insulating bases 3l and 38 suitably secured to the casing IIJ of the clock movement, suitable screw-held clamping members 39 being employed to secure said rings upon said bases. Each of the rings 34, 35 and 36 is formed from suitable insulating material, provided on its under side however, with a coating 40 of metal foil or the like. Each of the contacts I5a, I6a, 29a is in the form of a clamp or yoke embracing the rin-g and conductively contacting with the metallic coating thereof for current conducting purposes, hereinafter explained.

The minute-contact 29 coacts with the fixed minute-contact 29a in establishing a circuit for one signal 4I (Fig. 5) for one program, and said Contact 29 coacts with the other minute-contact 29b on the ring 36 in establishing a circuit for a second signal 4I1. While 29 and 29a are coacting, I5 and I5a are also coasting. When 29 and 29b are coacting, I6 and I6a are also coacting, all of which will become more apparent hereinafter.

Metallic conductors 42 and 43 are embedded in the base 38 in contact with the metallic coatings 4i) of the rings 34 and 35, said conductors 42 and 43 being provided with terminal strips 44 and 45. The strip 44 is connected by a conductor 46 with one terminal of the signal 4I, and the strip 45 is similarly connected at 41 with one terminal of the signal 4 la. The other terminals of the signals 4I and 4Ia are connected by wiring or the like 48 and 49 respectively, with one side 50 of a. power line or the like connected with a storage battery, transformer, etc. The other side 5I of the line is connected by a wire 52 with a brush erable with a plurality of contact pins 54 removably mounted on a peripherally toothed wheel 55, said wheel having a carrying shaft 56 secured in an opening in the base 38. The body portion of the wheel 55 may be of insulating material but the shaft 56 is metallic, and said wheel is provided with a metallic disk 5'I contacting with said shaft and having openings 58 removably receiving the pins 54. The shaft 56 is connected by a wire or the like 59 with a conductor 60 which is 53 mounted on the base 38. This brush is coopembedded in the base 38 and contacts with the metal coating 40 of the ring 36.

An actuator 6I for the wheel 55, is flxedly carried by the arm I4, and said actuator 6I may well be in the form of a metal pin carried by an insulating block 62 secured at 63 to said arm.

During all periods in which the switch is intended to operate, the brush 53 contacts with one or another of the pins 54 and each time the arm I4 makes one revolution, the actuator 6I engages a tooth of the wheel 55, turning the latter one step so that said brush contacts with the next pin. By removing one pin or another, it is obvious that the brush 53 will merely be at an open space when ordinarily it would engage one of the pins and hence, the entire switch is inoperatively conditioned for a period of twelve hours, that is, until the actuator 6I turns the wheel 55 another step. The pins and brush are thus of advantage on days when the signal which would ordinarily be given, is not to be given.

When the hour-shaft II rotates sufficiently to bring the hour-contact I5 in engagement with the xed hour-contact I5a, these contacts partly close a circuit for the signal 4I when the minutecontact 29 engages the fixed minute-contact 29, said circuit is further completed, and when the second-shaft I3 causes the roller 32 to engage the lever 23 and close the switch I 8, said circuit is fully established. The current then flows from the side 5I of the line or the like through the wire 52 and brush 53 to one of the contact pins 54, through disk 51, shaft 56, wire 59 and conductor 60 to the metallic coating 40 of the ring 36, through this metallic coating to the contact 29, then through the contact 29, finger 26, arm 22, contacts 2I and I9, and arm 28 to arm I1. From arm I1, the current flows through the shafts I2 and II to the arm I4. From this arm, the current flows through the contacts I5 and I5a and the metallic coating 40 of the ring 34 to the conductor 42, and from this conductor to the signal 4I through the terminal 44 and wire 46. From the signal 4I, current flows through the wire 48 to the side 50 of the line or the like.

When the minute-contact 29 engages the fixed minute-contact 2gb, it partially completes a cir-l cuit for the signal 4Ia; when contact I6 engages the contact I6, it further completes said circuit, and when roller 32 again causes lever 23 to close the switch I8, said circuit for the signal 4 I is entirely completed. This circuit is then through 5I, 52, 53', 54, 51, 56, 59, 60, 40 (of 36), 29", 29, 28,22, 2|, I9, 20, I1, I2, II, I4, I6, |611, 40 (of 35), 43, 45, 41, 4I, 49, 50.

In Fig. 1, the minute-contact 29 and the hour-contact I5EL are so set that the contacts 29 and I5 will engage them at ten oclock, partly establishing the circuit for the signal 4I, and immediately after this partial establishment, switch I8 is closed by the roller 32 on the second-shaft I3, completing said circuit. In the same view (Fig. 1), the contacts 29b and Iiia are so set that they will be engaged by the contacts 29 and I6 at 10:15, partly establishing the circuit for the signal 4I' this circuit being completely established when roller 32 again causes closing of the switch I6. The signal 4I will thus give one signal for one program, at 10 oclock and at 10:15, the signal 4Ia for another program will be sounded.

It will be seen from the foregoing that novel and advantageous construction has been provided for carrying out the objects of the invention. 'I'he details disclosed may be followed if desired, but are principally for illustrative purposes, and numerous variations may be made within the scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:-

1. A time switch comprising an hour-shaft, a minute-shaft, a second-shaft, a rotating hourcontact carried by said hour-shaft and a fixed hour-contact cooperable with said rotating hourcontact in partly completing a circuit when said hour-shaft has rotated to a predetermined ex tent; a rotating minute-contact carried by said minute-shaft and a fixed minute-contact cooperable with said rotating minute-contact in further completing said circuit when said minuteshaft has rotated to a predetermined extent, a normally open switch carried by said minuteshaft for fully completing said circuit when closed, and means carried by said second-shaft for closing said switch when said second-shaft has rotated to a predetermined extent.

2. In at time switch, two concentric clock shafts having different speeds of rotation, a traveling contact carried by one of said shafts and a fixed contact cooperable with said traveling contact in partly completing a circuit when said one shaft has rotated to a predetermined extent, a normally open switch carried by said one shaft to complete said circuit when closed, and means on the other of said shafts for closing said switch when said other shaft has rotated to a predetermined extent.

3. In a time switch, two concentric clock shafts having different speeds of rotation, a switch carried by one of said shafts, and means carried by the other of said shafts for operating said switch once at each revolution of said other shaft.

4. In a time switch, two concentric clock shafts having different speeds of rotation, an arm projecting from one of said shafts, a switch mounted on said arm and having an actuating member, and a second arm on the other of said shafts adapted to strike said actuating member to operate said switch when the shafts have rotated to a predetermined relation.

5. In a switch, an insulating ring provided on one side with a metallic coating, a traveling contact engaging an uncoated side of said ring, a contact having one portion engaging said coating and another portion positioned at said uncoated side of the ring to be engaged by said traveling contact, and conducting means conductively connected with said traveling contact and said coating respectively.

LLOYD C. HOSTETLER. 

